Cougars come back to beat Rice

Posted: February 10, 2013 -- 5:13 p.m. CT.

HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- Porsche Landry scored 15 points in the second half to key a 53-51 comeback victory for the Houston Cougars over cross-town rival Rice in front of 537 fans gathered inside Rice's Tudor Fieldhouse as well as a Fox Sports tv audience.

Landry played just nine minutes in the first half due to foul trouble; but, in 17 second-half  minutes, Landry scored 15 points on 6 for 10 field goal shooting and dished three assists to help the Coogs erase a 14 point deficit in the final 13:53 of the ball game.

The first half was a nightmare for the Coogs: 14 turnovers; 8 for 30 field goal shooting; and Landry and freshman guard Alecia Smith on the bench with two fouls. Despite the nightmarish first half, the Coogs trailed the Owls by just seven (31-24) at halftime.

Landry scored the first two points of the second half; but, the Owls went on a 12-3 run to lead 43-29 with 13:53 on the game clock.

Marissa Ashton nailed a jump shot; the, Landry converted a three-point play to bring the Coogs within nine points (43-34) with 11:47 remaining.

After Landry dished to Te'Onna Campbell, Landry score five straight points to cut the deficit to 47-41.

Once again, Landry dished to Campbell for a layup to cut the deficit to 47-43; then, Landry found Yasmeen Thompson for layup and the Coogs trailed 47-45 with 5:53 left in the game.

The Owls went up 49-45 before Alecia Smith split two free throws. Landry drained a jumper and a game-tying three-point shot to knot the game at 51.

With 1:21 left in the game, freshman Marche' Amerson gave the Coogs the lead with a driving layup.

Neither team scored in the final 81 seconds.